Rendezvous with Automation at the Curb

2025-01-30T11:19:10-08:00

Autonomous vehicles, both individual and shared shuttles, offer significant mobility benefit to people with disabilities and others who lack use of a personal vehicle. However, they may also exacerbate existing barriers to human-driven shared ride services, such as policy violations, rendezvous failures, and poor curb location selection. We seek to address these barriers by identifying considerations for decisionmakers and service providers.

Rendezvous with Automation at the Curb2025-01-30T11:19:10-08:00

Will New Mobility Services Fill Transit Service Gaps? (Phase 1)

2025-01-28T11:57:22-08:00

Transit accessibility remains an issue for many residents. Additionally, empty buses run during off-peak or late-night hours and in suburban areas to meet coverage requirements, often resulting in inefficient resource allocation. This project will assess the potential for new mobility services (e.g., AVs and micromobility) to fill gaps in transit service and improve operational efficiency. 

Will New Mobility Services Fill Transit Service Gaps? (Phase 1)2025-01-28T11:57:22-08:00

Scalable V2X Options into the Future: A Los Angeles Case Study

2025-01-28T11:57:23-08:00

Scalable Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) solutions are essential for enhancing road safety and traffic efficiency in our communities. This project investigates scalable V2X options by considering global advancements and varied technological ecosystems, utilizing all forms of V2X connectivity—including Cellular V2X (C-V2X), Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), and cellular networks—with Los Angeles serving as a case study. Currently, there's no comprehensive plan to implement these advanced vehicle communication technologies. Our aim is to develop a strategic plan to deploy V2X technology in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, improving safety, reducing traffic congestion, and preparing for major events like the 2028 Olympic Games. By engaging with various stakeholders and building a practical plan, we hope to create a reference that can inform future deployments by Caltrans or other cities across the U.S.

Scalable V2X Options into the Future: A Los Angeles Case Study2025-01-28T11:57:23-08:00

Developing a Safety-Centric Framework for the Integration of Autonomous Vehicles in Local Jurisdictions

2025-01-28T11:57:23-08:00

The rapid advancement of autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant safety challenges for local jurisdictions. Recent approvals by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for companies like Waymo to operate highly automated vehicle services in Los Angeles and San Francisco have ignited substantial public concern over safety and regulatory inconsistencies. This project proposes the development of a safety-centric, risk-based management framework to facilitate the at-scale integration of AVs into existing transportation systems while ensuring public safety is paramount. By engaging stakeholders, analyzing current policies, and collaborating with transportation authorities such as the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA), we aim to identify performance metrics, risk tolerance levels, and deployment criteria that decisionmakers may consider. The framework may help local/state agencies understand and implement the good safety management practices for AV integration, balancing innovation with public welfare. Outcomes will include comprehensive policy considerations, refined safety performance metrics, and an enhanced AV safety framework tailorable for local jurisdictions.

Developing a Safety-Centric Framework for the Integration of Autonomous Vehicles in Local Jurisdictions2025-01-28T11:57:23-08:00

Data for Autonomous Transportation Awareness (DATA)

2025-01-28T11:57:22-08:00

AV deployments are rapidly expanding across multiple urban environments, yet current AV operations and planning are often hindered by limited access to standardized, real-time municipal data. Cities produce a wide range of data that could critically inform AV routing and decision-making, including 911 call logs, real-time street closures, construction activities, and emergency response events. However, these data are rarely available in a consistent standardized format suitable for AV consumption. The Data for Autonomous Transportation Awareness (DATA) project aims to close this gap by identifying key municipal data sources, evaluating existing data standards, and developing a scalable, standardized data-sharing framework that can be integrated into AV operational systems. Through stakeholder engagement and data standards analysis, the project will enable AVs to proactively avoid potentially problematic areas (e.g., emergency incidents or active construction zones), thereby reducing conflicts with first responders, improving roadway safety, and optimizing traffic operations. Ultimately, the DATA project will foster replicability, support widespread industry adoption, and ensure that AVs can leverage city data efficiently and consistently, avoiding a fragmented “patchwork” of standards across different regions.

Data for Autonomous Transportation Awareness (DATA)2025-01-28T11:57:22-08:00

Modeling and Simulation Testbeds: A Sandbox for Analysis of New Mobility Deployed at Scale

2025-01-27T23:02:11-08:00

In the absence of extensive real-world data on operational strategies and new mobility solutions, including automated vehicles and emerging mobility options, the adoption of modeling and simulation testbeds emerges as a pivotal tool for evaluation at scale. However, while there is a substantial body of research on modeling and simulating new mobility solutions, much of this work remains theoretical and disconnected from the practical needs of practitioners and policymakers. There is a critical need for more applicable, robust, and validated simulation testbeds that can bridge the gap between research and real-world applications. These testbeds should be designed to meet the specific requirements of practitioners and policymakers, enabling them to evaluate new mobility solutions effectively and make informed decisions to improve accessibility, efficiency and sustainability of transportation systems.   

Modeling and Simulation Testbeds: A Sandbox for Analysis of New Mobility Deployed at Scale2025-01-27T23:02:11-08:00

Permits, Fees, Paperwork and Delays: Regulating New Shared Mobility

2025-01-27T09:39:47-08:00

Public agencies and state and local governments often impose various regulations on shared mobility services. These regulations vary widely by place and mode, and the costs and benefits of these regulations are poorly understood. This project aims to categorize shared mobility regulations, identify their intents and impacts, and to better understand the balance of regulations.

Permits, Fees, Paperwork and Delays: Regulating New Shared Mobility2025-01-27T09:39:47-08:00

Risk-based Assessment of V2X-enabled Traffic Systems (Phase 1)

2025-01-16T16:46:33-08:00

There is a significant interest in researching methods to improve V2X cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and the development of a decision support tool for deployment for different stakeholders. To develop a framework that allows the assessment of the safety and traffic impacts of V2X technology and provides actionable insights for deriving safety, reliability, and connectivity requirements.

Risk-based Assessment of V2X-enabled Traffic Systems (Phase 1)2025-01-16T16:46:33-08:00

Shifting Spaces: Understanding Land Use and Zoning Adaptations for the Autonomous and Shared Mobility Era

2025-01-16T16:46:38-08:00

As autonomous vehicles (AVs) and shared mobility gain traction, there’s an urgent need to quantify their land use impacts and reassess zoning requirements. The demand for traditional auto-serving facilities like gas stations, repair shops, and car dealerships is expected to wane, while the need for new types of spaces, such as fleet servicing centers and storage, will rise. This shift also redefines the layout and size of freight logistics areas to accommodate the integration of AV technology. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for urban planners and policymakers as they adapt zoning regulations to meet the evolving needs of urban landscapes. This research aims to provide concrete data on land use changes and identify zoning adjustments that support the transition towards a future where AVs and shared mobility solutions are prevalent, helping cities prepare for a sustainable and efficient transformation in urban land utilization.

Shifting Spaces: Understanding Land Use and Zoning Adaptations for the Autonomous and Shared Mobility Era2025-01-16T16:46:38-08:00

Stakeholder Engagement Campaign with LA and Austin

2025-01-16T16:46:29-08:00

The successful integration of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and new mobility solutions into urban environments faces challenges due to the complex interplay of technological advancements, diverse stakeholder interests, and unique local contexts. A lack of coordinated planning and collaboration among key stakeholders can lead to: - Fragmented approaches that lead to inefficient deployments, incompatible technologies, and missed opportunities to maximize the benefits of AVs and new mobility services. - Unforeseen consequences for land use, traffic flow, social impacts, and public acceptance. - Missing opportunities to use new automated vehicles and new mobility to address critical transportation challenges and achieve broader urban development goals. This project addresses this problem by facilitating collaborative, place-based planning processes that bring together stakeholders to develop comprehensive AV and new mobility strategies tailored to the specific needs and priorities of individual cities.

Stakeholder Engagement Campaign with LA and Austin2025-01-16T16:46:29-08:00
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